|
Patient's Bill of Rights
Revised July, 2007
• Be informed of your rights in advance of providing or discontinuing care.
• Considerate and respectful care at all times, free from abuse or neglect.
• A doctor who is responsible for coordinating your care.
• To have a family member, representative or physician of your choice notified of your admission.
• Complete, current and understandable information about your diagnosis, treatment, and possible outcome. Immediate family members, a reciprocal beneficiary, civil union partner or guardian may also have this
information, with your permission or if you become incompetent.
• Except in emergencies, to receive from your doctor information necessary to give informed consent to a treatment or procedure or both, and to development and implementation of your plan of care.
• Request or refuse treatment to the extent allowed by law. If you do refuse treatment, you will be told of the medical results of your action. The hospital will be relieved of any further responsibility for your refusal.
• Formulate advance directives which allow you to give directions about your future medical care.
• Personal privacy and privacy concerning your medical care including a person of your gender present during
certain examinations, to be disrobed no longer than needed for medical purposes, to send and receive mail, to retain personal items including religious or other symbols, and to wear appropriate personal clothing so long as they do not interfere with your care.
• Expect that all communication and records about your care will be treated as confidential. (Except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law.)
• Expect that, within our capacity, RRMC will respond reasonably to your request for services and access to
information in your record in a reasonable time frame.
• Know who is taking care of you and what his or her job is, know who your doctor is, know if anyone taking care of you is a student or intern.
• Know if any of your care is part of a research study. If so, those studies will be fully explained to you before you consent to the treatment.
• Care that is planned and given in a consistent way in a safe setting.
• Be informed by your doctor what your health care needs will be after discharge.
• A statement of charges that is itemized, detailed and understandable, no matter what your source of payment.
• Know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices in so far as they are known.
• Whenever possible, parents, guardians, immediate family member, a civil union partner, agent or reciprocal
beneficiaries have the right to stay with terminally ill patients 24-hours a day.
• Whenever possible, parents or guardians have the right to stay with their children 24-hours a day.
• Interpreters or assistive devices, if you have a hearing impairment or do not speak or understand English.
• To be free from restraints or seclusion when not medically necessary or used for any other reason, so that restraints or seclusion will only be used if necessary to improve your well-being or protect your physical safety and other means have been found to be ineffective.
• Know what hospital rules and regulations apply to your responsibilities as a patient (see other side).
• The right to voice a complaint and expect timely resolution without fear of care or treatment being compromised.
• The right to receive professional assessment of pain and professional pain management.
• The right to be informed in writing of the availability of hospice services and the eligibility criteria for those services.
• The right to know the maximum patient census and the full-time equivalent numbers of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed nursing assistants who provide direct care for each shift on the unit where the patient is receiving care. RRMC’s phone number for requesting public information is 802.775.7111
When an individual has concerns about patient care or safety in the hospital, he/she is encouraged to contact the hospital’s Patient Relations Coordinator at 802.772.1978. If concerns have not been resolved through the hospital or the listed agencies, the individual may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring to report the concern at 1.800.994.6610 or e-mail at complaint@jointcommission.org.
In addition to the hospital’s complaint/grievance procedures (Patient Relations at 772-1978, Performance Improvement at 747-3772 or Risk Management at 747-3761), patients who have complaints or concerns may contact the following agencies:
Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection
103 S Main Street, Ladd Hall, Waterbury, VT, 05611-2306 • 802.241.2345 or 800.564.1612
Health Care Administration, 89 S Main Street, Drawer 20, Montpelier, VT, 05620-3601 • 802.828.2900
VT Protection & Advocacy, 141 Main Street, Ste 7, Montpelier, VT 05602 • 800.834.7890 or 802.229.1355
VT Dept of Health, Medical Practice Board, 108 Cherry Street, PO Box 70, Burlington, VT 05402-0070
800.745.7371 or 802.657.4220
Northeast Health Care Quality Foundation (Quality Improvement Organization for Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont) 15 Old Rollinsford Road, Ste 302, Dover NH 03820-2830 • 800.772.0151
Secretary of State Office, Vermont Board of Nursing, 81 River Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-1104 • 802.828.2396
Secretary of State Office, 26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09, Montpelier, VT 05609 • 802.828.2363
As a patient in this hospital, you have the responsibility to:
• Keep your appointments or phone the hospital when you cannot.
• Be considerate of other patients by respecting their privacy and limiting your visitors.
• Observe safety regulations including smoking and weapons policy.
• Supply accurate information to appropriate personnel and report unexpected changes in your
condition to your doctor.
• Ask questions in instructions are unclear.
• Participate in your treatment plan as recommended by your health care team.
• Assure that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
If you have any questions about your rights and responsibilities, ask your physicians, nurse, social worker, case manager, or other hospital representative.
References: Vermont Statute: VSA 18 chapter 18 subsection 1852; revision Act 91 (2000); American Hospital Association: A Patient's Bill of Rights (10/92); Americans with Disabilities Act (1990); Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996); Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations: CAMH, Patient Rights and Organization Ethics
|
|
Patients & Visitors
